On November 18th officials of the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police met with the Las Animas County Sheriff, his staff, and the rank and file members of the department to discuss their concerns over proposed cuts by the Las Animas Board of County Commissioners to the 2011 Sheriff's budget.

Last Monday the Las Animas County Commissioners announced additional cuts to next year’s public safety budget.It is our opinion that these cuts, if implemented, will have a serious impact on both officer and public safety, and the ability to deliver adequate emergency services to the citizens of Las Animas County.As a result we have joined with the Las Animas Sheriff to ask the commissioners to re-consider their decision.

All counties in Colorado are faced with decreased revenues to some degree. Las AnimasCounty is the only county we have seen proposing budget cuts to the extent that it adversely impacts the safety and welfare of its citizens. The bottom line is cuts will have to be made elsewhere. The 2011 budget submitted by the Sheriff is the “bottom line”. We ask the CountyCommissioners to give serious consideration to their proposed actions on this budget in regards to the adverse impact that those decisions will have on the county and its citizens.

We know the public deserves, expects, demands and pays taxes for adequate responsive public safety services. To give them anything less is unconscionable. Public safety in Las Animas County cannot be compromised any further. It is our sincerest hope the Las Animas County Board reconsiders their proposed cuts to the public safety budget.